Reviews, videos and more on emerging bands & music from around the world to enlighten past the lamestream masses. Published by Russian Winter Records, Kansas City based Indie Record Label, PR Firm & BMI Affiliated Music Publisher.

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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Rennes, France is the h﻿ome to an indie music scene that is producing some very fine music. FZB has recently reviewed Trunks and We Only Said, and now has the pleasure of introducing you to the latest album from The Missing Season. To The Fire is a beautiful work featuring 13 tracks of freak folk standouts. If you like Mumford and Sons or Fleet Foxes, than To The Fire will be a treat to your ears. Ranging from lush and melodic to heavy and driving, this folk inspired quintet delivers on every track. The Missing Season miss nothing in producing excellent music. Stream and download To The Fire at the link below.

The self-titled album, We Only Sa﻿id, is the work of artist/producer Florian Marzano, who also plays with the recently reviewed French band Trunks. Marzano makes post-punk music that ranges stylistically from alt rock, to indie rock, to freak folk. Like Trunks, We Only Said features a high level of musicianship, excellent production and fine songwriting. Marzano is an artist that has a lot to offer musically. Stream and download We Only Said at the link below.

Monday, November 28, 2011

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UK dreamwave artist/producer Pinemarten just released his latest album, If You Thought There Was Any Doubt. Those into Washed Out, Neon Indian and Toro y Moi need to listen to Pinemarten. The album has Pinemarten's signature lush sound. The nine tracks are huge in their scope, the music perfectly compliments the vocals, the production is flawless and the whole package is a superlative synthpop record. Pinemarten just gets better with every release. Stream and buy If You Thought There Was Any Doubt at the link below.

Rennes, France is the home to post-punk band Trunks. Their latest album, On The Roof, is a hard edged blend of noise, experimental and in your face rock. Jagged sax lines and driving guitars abound. When the band turns downtempo the music is as beautiful and lush as smooth satin sheets. On The Roof brims with superlative musicianship and imaginative songs. Stream and buy On The Roof at the link below.

Through ﻿a Glass, Darkly is the Sydney, Australia trio of Dave Low, Lachie Street,and Amelia Sim. On their debut EP, Be My Guest, they deliver a powerful blend of indie and alternative rock, laced with blues and progressive influences. What emerges is a unique sound that has a compelling feel and edgyness. High musicianship, abundant hooks and crisp production make this a debut EP not to be missed. Stream and download Be My Guest at the link below.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Music for Dance and Theater is the latest album from legendary American artist/composer﻿ Blaine L. Reininger. best know for his work with the seminal cult band Tuxedomoon in the late 1970's. Music for Dance and Theater is a collection of works recorded by Reininger in 2010 and 2011 for stage productions from 5 different Greek directors and choreographers. Music for Dance and Theater is an epic work melding classical influences with post-punk, minimalist and electronic textures. Dark and brooding, the 14 tracks are transformative in their depth. Rock has yielded a scant few composers that can stand with the greats of classical music. Reininger is one of them. Stream and buy Music For Dance and Theater at the link below.

Open Season is the new album from Chicago pop band Yawn. The band has grown with this album and are gaining much wider recognition. ﻿Yawn is currently on tour with the Kooks. The 11 tracks on Open Season range in texture from indie, to electropop, to an industrial feel. Yawn delivers on every track. Stream and buy Open Season at the link below.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

FZB favorite Giraffage has released his debut full length album Comfort. The work of San Francisco producer/artist ﻿Charlie Yin, Giraffage impressed with his Pretty Things EP back in May. Giraffage fulfills the promise of that EP with a sterling album full of synthpop goodness. This chillwave/dreampop artist continues to evolve the genre with excellent songs, production and musicianship. Giraffage is an artist we pick to become a leader in synthpop for years to come. Get with him. Stream and download Comfort at the link below.

Toronto band Dress Rehearsal just released a new single that is the harbinger of the band's trancendence to the status of major players. The tracks River Blue and Morning Grey are some of the best new freak folk I've heard in a long while. Fans of Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes will find the best elements of both in Dress Rehearsal's music. The two tracks on The Lazy River Road are more melodic than the former and heavier than the latter.The songs are beautiful, driving and delicately intricate. ﻿ This single is great and one can only hope that a full length is to follow not to far behind. Stream and download The Lazy River Road for free at the link below.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

﻿Desert Family is the self-titled debut album from this California band. The ten tracks of power pop feature catchy riffs, powerful vocals, abundent hooks and distinct blues roots. Rather than catching the trend of making heavy garage band blues, Desert Familly go the pop route sharing influences from Philly soul to Memphis blues. Desert Family deliver some welcome variety from the usual in indie music. Stream and download Desert Family for free at the link below.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

﻿The Radio Filth EP is the latest work from French electronic artist Eworks. The EP includes three original tracks and two remixes of the title track. Energetic and at times darkly ambient, Eworks conjures up a broad electronic palette to create tracks that are deceptive in their complexity, while remaining simple in sound. Minimalist beats complete the picture, giving the listener a sonic experience that will remain interesting over repeated plays. Stream and buy the Radio Filth EP at the link below.

New York Times is the latest EP from NYC dream pop trio Behavior. ﻿The five tracks have a lo-fi production texture, heavy reverb on out back vocals and up front synths. The guitars supply wondeful accents and harmonies with interesting phrasing. While the drums are prominent, the bass is, unfortunately, largely lost in the mix. There is a distinct post-punk influence on New York Times and a generally edgier feel than one would find from California dream pop bands. Given the dirth of beach music this year, Behavior are a welcome change that shows the genre has more legs to it. Stream and download New York Times at the link below.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Dempsey is the self-titled debut EP from this San Francisco synthpop duo. The six tracks have a bolder production quality than the usual run of chillwave artists. The beats are heavier, the synths are heavier, there is the occational lo-fi-aesthetic and twangy, reverby guitars, while the vocals are strong, not pushed back. ﻿Dempsey gives us an evolution of synthpop, where the genre moves closer to both electronica and indie rock. The whole package is a welcome blend of the best of these influences. Dempsey do it right and the result is a sterling debut EP. Stream and download Dempsey at the link below.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

﻿Cassette Recordings is the latest album from California artist Flatsound. Cassette Recordings is a lo-fi album that, rather than having that noisy lo-fi genre sound, is actually recorded as lo-fi as it gets. The nine tracks were recorded on a RadioShack VOX voice activated cassette recorder. This production aesthetic gives the tracks a legitimate feel that enhances the forlorn themes of the lyrics. The album ranges from haunting folk textures to dark garage ambience and serves as a tonal poem illustrating Flatsound's morose journey. Stream and buy Cassette Recordings at the link below.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

﻿White Death & Black Heart is the latest album from Swiss post punk band Peter Kernel. Hard and very edgy, White Death & Black Heart is a record that belongs in everyone's collection. Peter Kernel deliver a post punk aesthetic that harkens back to Gang of Four or the Stranglers. While many influences come to mind in listening to this record, the major impression is that this is a highly original work. One that melds all that went before into a truly unique sound and take on songwriting. Stream three tracks and buy White Death & Black Heart at the link below.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The New York powerhouse known as Guards impress with their self-titled debuit EP. Fresh from shredding the Stride Soundstage in their TV debut on Fuel's Daily Habit, Guards is poised to become a major force in indie rock. ﻿The seven tracks range from lo-fi retro influenced power pop to balls out garage rock. Guards even get help on the track Sail It Slow from indie darlings Cults. Bands this good rarely come around. The best part is that the Guards EP is still available for free download. Get it at their Bandcamp page at the link below.

San Francisco shoegazer and FZB favorite Blackbird Blackbird, aka Mikey Maramag, teases us with the new track Tear. The track is a lush blend of lo-fi guitars and haunting, almost not there vocal wisps, with minmalist beats and synths that create an other worldly shoegaze anthem. Since FZB reviewed the Halo album back in March, Blackbird Blackbird has released three individual tracks. Hopefully signs that a new album is near. Much, much more music is desired from Maramag. Stream and download Tear for free at the link below.

﻿Japanese duo Lullatone gives us a new album that is composed of 15 tracks recorded to be a soundtrack for ones daily life events. With a combination of poppy guitars, minmalist beats and other light instrumentation, Lullatone take us through anime like tonal poems where one skips and giggles through all of the mundane daily chores. This is a fun, uplifting record that should be played when one is overtaken by seriousness in their daily pusuits. Soundtracks For Everyday Adventures is imaginative, catchy and should be on a CD in your car and office for easy access when the day seems dark. Stream and buy Soundtracks For Everyday Adventures at the link below.

Rivka is the self-titled debut album from the Pittsburgh duo of Rivka Rose and Reggie Wilkins. Rivka serves up nine tracks of dreamy synth pop that shows influences from dubstep and psychedelic. Minimalist beats propel the listener through layers of synths, noise and vocals to create an overall sound that draws the listener into it's airy complexity. The vocals of Rose and Wilkins mesh effortlessly creating an album of depth and style. Stream and buy Rivka (and two newer individual tracks) at the link below.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Knit is the debut EP from Tokyo based Neon Cloud.﻿ The four tracks, with symbols for titles, include three originals and a remix of the first track by FZB favorite Sun Glitters. Neon Cloud makes ambient based dream pop, with minimalist beats and layers of synths to build a musical bed for other worldly vocal phrasings. With minimal lyrics, the vocals become sounds and musical gestures as another instrument. Knit draws influences from dubstep, but has a dreamier ambient esthetic. Stream and download Knit for free at the link below.

Beforetime is the sophomore EP from Sydney, AU artist Tim Fitz. Fitz makes amazing pop with looping instrumental parts and vocals that are a crtoss betweem James Murphy and Justin Vernon (ok so now you have to listen to the EP to see how that would work). Ranging from heavy and fuzzy to ambient in texture, Fitz spices up the mix with some mashed up jazz stylings. Beforetime is eight tracks that call out to be listened to. This is an artist with a unique identity. Get in on the ground floor. Stream and download the Beforetime EP for free at the link below.

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For review consideration on FZB, you must email both your Bandcamp and Facebook links to russianwinterrecords(at)gmail(dot)com. We only review albums and EP's that are streaming on Bandcamp. Do not submit before your tracks are live on Bandcamp, we will discard advance submissions. We do not review releases in languages other than English, remixes, or releases over 4 months past their release date.

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